| answer text |
<p>The Government has already taken significant steps to tackle plastic pollution
(e.g. microplastics), including restricting the supply of several single-use plastics
through introducing a plastic packaging tax from April 2022; restricting the supply
of plastic straws, plastic drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds; and preventing
billions of plastic microbeads from entering the ocean each year by introducing a
ban on microbeads in rinse off personal care products.</p><p> </p><p>The majority
of microfibres are removed through water treatment and analysis of the evidence available
to date does not show that there is a sufficient benefit to the environment that can
justify legislation to mandate the microfibre filters in new washing machines with
prices ranging from £30 to £122 per machine, dependent on manufacturer and whether
the filters are disposable or reusable. Defra’s Plan for Water therefore includes
a commitment for industry to develop low cost, effective microfibre filters on washing
machines and encourage their effective use. We have met industry colleagues and posed
this challenge and we look forward to any proposals they are able to share when they
are able to do so.</p>
|
|
